"Understand?" Ann laughed mirthlessly. "How should I understand? Tony and I were trapped up there--at the Dents de Loup. It was a pure accident. Hasn't Lady Susan told you? Oh!"--with a quick, tortured movement. "What have I ever done that you could think of me like that?" "I know--" Once again a fleeting look of shame clouded the blue eyes. "It seems mad--now. Now that it's all explained. But any man might have thought the same. And do me this justice--I loved you well enough to forgive you that, or anything else." "_You loved me!_" The contempt in her voice was like a lash across the face. "You to speak of love! Why, you don't know the first meaning of it! No man who loved me would have deliberately set out to destroy my happiness. Did you imagine for one moment that I would marry you after what you've done? Never! Even if I absolutely _hated_ Eliot I wouldn't marry you. Oh!"--smiting her hands together--"I couldn't have believed that any man--even you!"--with blazing scorn--"could have been so wicked--so utterly devoid of anything decent or honest or straight. Have you no feeling, Brett--no mercy, or charity, that you could do such a thing?" "I've the kind of charity that begins at home," he returned, unabashed. "All's fair in love and war, you know." "Fair! Surely you're not trying to pretend that you've been fair?" "I think it was a perfectly legitimate thing to do--in the circumstances," he answered coolly. She gazed at him, appalled. Lady Susan had indeed been right when she declared that Brett had no principles, and against his unshakable sang-froid Ann felt as helpless to make any impression as a wave beating at the foot of some granite rock. "When you want something very badly," he explained with the utmost simplicity, "the only way to get it is to forge straight ahead. You can't afford to be squeamish over trifles. And I want you!"--his voice deepening to a sudden intensity. The old, familiar fear and dread of him rushed over her afresh. She felt sick--sick and terrified. "Oh, go--go away!" she exclaimed desperately. "All right, I'll go. But you'll kiss me first." He took a step towards her. She could not retreat. The wall was immediately behind her. With a sudden sideways movement she twisted and tried to escape him. But it was useless. With incredible swiftness he caught her as she turned, and she felt his arms close round her in a grip of steel. He stooped his head.